Are you ready to learn how to make a gift bag? These newspaper gift bags are a breeze to create! These creative, handcrafted bags not only reduce waste but also add a distinctive touch of personality to any present. Imagine transforming yesterday’s headlines into delightful carriers for today’s treasures, combining the nostalgia of print with the joy of giving.
Whether you’re wrapping a birthday surprise or a heartfelt thank you, newspaper gift bags offer a unique blend of practicality and creativity. Join us as we delve into the art of repurposing newspapers into beautiful gift bags that are as kind to the planet as they are to your budget.
This holiday season save money and go green when you make your own gift bags out of newspaper. Better yet, while school is out, keep your children busy with this simple craft .
How to make gift bags
To make your own small gift bag (5 inches tall), you’ll need a few items that are probably already around the house. Here’s the list:
- Two sheets of newspaper
- Tape (clear packaging tape is best) or glue
- A ruler
- Scissors
- String, twine or ribbon (optional)
- 3 Pairs of Quality All Purpose Scissors -- 2.5mm Thickness Sharp Blade, comfort-Grip Handle, Heavy Duty Scissors Great for cutting burlap, paper, card stock, cardboard, wrapping paper, light line, fabric, tape, photos, coupons, and opening boxes & packaging. Surprised for sewing, tailoring, quilting, dressmaking, cutting patterns, cutting quilting, Vinyl, Leather, and making face masks.
- Cuts Through Boxes, Cardboard, Fabric & Tape Like Butter -- Our 2.5mm hardened stainless steel blades (3× thicker than normal scissors) power through packages, cardstock, wrapping paper, quilting fabric, and heavy tape without wearing your hand out. Perfect for opening package boxes, prepping crafts, or trimming kids' school projects. Includes 3 straight-handled scissors – ideal for teachers’ middle/high school classrooms, or keep one in every room for everyday tasks
- Sharp Office Scissors -- Stainless steel blades enable high-density steel that makes it 3 times harder than normal stainless steel and is smoother cutting. 6 X longer lasting than the previous formula and remain sharp for 100,000 + cuts. Blades stay sharper longer; We chose bright colors, Black Green/Black Red/Black Blue. Different color rubber handles are used in different places, comfort-Grip holes let you maintain a comfortable, can be used left- or right-handed.
- 【Size and Quantity】Each roll is 3/8 inch wide and 5 yards long, giving you a total of 100 yards plenty to get you through a full season of gift wrapping, crafting, and decorating.
- 【Christmas Theme Ribbon】 There are spools of solid red and green, solid silver and gold and a bunch of cool pattered ribbon. There are patterns with Christmas favorites like snowflakes, Santa, deer, trucks with trees, Christmas trees in reds and greens. There are blue and white winter ones. There are plaid and gingham ribbon spools, too. The variety is impressive.
- 【Quality and Design】The grosgrain texture is durable and slightly ribbed, which gives your bows and knots a nice structure without fraying. The prints are vibrant and festive, ranging from classic candy canes and snowflakes to simple “Merry Christmas” text. Colors stay bright and don’t fade or bleed when tied or trimmed.
- INVISIBLE TAPE: 3 rolls of Scotch Magic Tape with dispenser mends rips and tears acquired during the holidays securely, permanently and invisibly
- HALLOWEEN CREATIONS: Craft eerie decorations or make spooky costumes with Scotch Magic Tape
Here’s how to make easy-to make homemade gift bags
Choose a sheet of newspaper that you’ll want for the outside of your bag. Lay another on top of it and measure then cut out a 15.5-by-8.25-inch rectangle to use for your do-it-yourself gift bag.
For the bottom of your easy-to-make gift bag, make a fold 2 inches from the lower edge. Fold the top edge down 1.25 inches. Glue these flaps down, using extra glue between the sheets to make sure both sheets are fastened. You can also use tape for this step.
Then you’ll need to measure and make several more folds to form your homemade gift bag’s shape. Working from the right edge of your cut rectangle, measure and mark the following points: 0.5 inches, 3.5 inches, 8 inches and 11 inches. Now make a creased fold at each of these points to form your bag.
Each side will be 3″ wide. The front and back are each 4.5 inches. The small fold you made at the right edge is the tab you will use to join your bag together, but don’t attach anything yet.
For reinforcement, you can run a length of packing tape around the top edge for extra strength. If you want even more reinforcement, you could use some heavier paper like card stock; cut a length and glue or tape that near the upper edge of your homemade gift bag.
Since I always figure the bags are throwaways, I skip this step and use these easy gift bags for lightweight gifts.
Now join the edges so the main bag shape is formed. You can use tape or glue. The tape is quicker since it doesn’t take any time to dry, but it will also show.
For me, quick always wins. Besides, the tape seems a little stronger than gluing.
Now form the bottom by folding sides, top and bottom, as if you’re wrapping a gift. Tape or glue to fasten. I like to line the inside bag bottom with tape or card stock for strength.
For a handle, you can punch holes in the top area of the bag and string twine or ribbon through to form handles knotted on the inside.
For variations, try cutting colorful paper with fancy-edge scissors and gluing that around the top outside edge of your homemade gift bag before you put on the handles.
You could also use old paper grocery bags, then add photographs, bows, or whatever else you feel makes your handcrafted gift bag complete. Altering the measurements by consistent percentages can make larger gift bags.
I told you it was easy to learn how to make your own gift bag! Giving a fun gift in a DIY gift bag is the best!
Is it hard to make your own gift bag out of newspaper?
Making your own gift bag out of newspaper is actually quite simple and can be a fun, creative project. It involves basic folding and cutting techniques, similar to origami, and requires just a few materials like scissors, tape, and of course, newspaper. With a bit of practice, you can easily create stylish and eco-friendly gift bags. Would you like a step-by-step guide on how to make one?
Is a newspaper gift bag appropriate to make and use during the holidays?
Absolutely! Newspaper gift bags can be a unique and thoughtful choice for holiday gift-giving. They add a personal, handmade touch to your presents and align perfectly with the spirit of sustainability. You can even customize them with festive decorations like ribbons, stamps, or drawings to make them more seasonal.
Plus, they offer a charming, vintage aesthetic that can stand out under the holiday tree. If you’d like, I can suggest some creative ways to decorate them for the holidays! Have fun making these DIY gift bags!
What are fun holiday gift ideas to add to these easy gift bags made out of newspapers?
There are so many fun gift ideas. Here are a few suggestions:
- ASSORTED DANISH BUTTER COOKIES: Enjoy a delightful variety of buttery Danish cookies baked with a traditional recipe in a 12-oz cookie gift tin
- 3 MAIN INGREDIENTS: These Danish cookies are made with with flour, butter, and sugar and non-GMO ingredients, free from preservatives or coloring added
- BAKED IN DENMARK: Expertly crafted in the heart of Denmark, in the town of Norre Snede and Ribe, these cookies embody true Danish traditions. Made with real butter, they feature a crisp, delicate texture and a rich, buttery flavor that melts in your mouth
- Cozy Warm Gifts for Her: Delight her with these soft and warm fuzzy socks presented in elegant packaging; an ideal gift for Birthdays, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Fall, Halloween, and holiday stocking stuffers
- Cloud-like Softness and Warmth: Indulge your feet with incredibly soft microfiber fuzzy socks that feel like stepping on a cloud, for exceptional warmth and coziness
- Unrestricted Comfort for Lounging and Sleep: Snug, non-binding cuffs that stay in place without tightness; seamless toe for ultimate comfort; above-ankle length, enhanced relaxation and better sleep
- Perfect Gifts Options - Beautiful package for you to send as a gifts without repackage . Containing 8 packs of 7 scents, every bath is an amazing experience. Surprise gift selection as a gifts for women, birthday gifts, stocking Stuffers, Christmas gifts , white elephant gifts and valentine gifts
- Natural Ingredients - BLRIET is made with the finest ingredients. Soothing and no side effects, enjoy your personal spa without worry.
- Superior Scent - Developed and repeatedly blended in the laboratory by master perfumers. The amazing scent is perfect to use as stocking stuffers, amazing scents of fragrances surround the sweet home bring you a special Christmas gifts experience
- LEGO HALLOWEEN TOY – Delight young fans of Halloween crafts with the LEGO Jack-O’-Lantern Pickup Truck (40822) building toy for boys and girls ages 8 years old and up
- SMALL PUMPKIN TOY FOR KIDS – This small Halloween treat features a pickup truck toy driven by a farmer minifigure, along with a large Halloween pumpkin with storage space for another pumpkin and a skull element
- INDOOR HALLOWEEN DECORATION – The completed build makes for a fun piece of Halloween decor, perfect for display in any room during the scary season
- 【Christmas Party Game】Our Christmas gift exchange dice are the perfect game to add excitement and fun to your Christmas party. Each side has designated instructions or rules, and every roll of the dice brings new changes to gift exchange
- 【Innovative Gift Exchange Dice Oversized】Our gift exchange dice features 12 unique sides with clear play instructions, ensuring a fun and Every Santa Gift Exchange Dice Rolled Brings New Surprises
- 【High-quality Materials and Perfect Size】Made from high-density PU material, our dice is lightweight, durable, and easy to roll,this oversized dice ensures durability and safety during gameplay. Measuring 3.94X3.94X3.94 inches, it fits comfortably in hand, the Soft Edges Make It Safe For friends To Use
- 🎁 ELEGANTLY PACKAGED GIFT BASKET LOADED WITH TASTY NUTS - Forget flowers and chocolate, give a gift that’s delicious and healthy! In this bundle pack of Healthy Snacks, you get approximately 1 LB of tasty gourmet nuts meticulously packaged in a boutique-style gift box.
- 🥜 VARIETY OF FRESH TASTY NUTS FOR EVERYONE TO ENJOY – The deluxe mixed nut box contains Toffee Peanuts, Glazed Almonds, Roasted Salted Almonds, Dry Roasted Salted or Unsalted Pistachios, Glazed Peanuts, Roasted Salted Cashews, and Glazed Pecans
- 👌 THERE ARE TREATS... AND THEN THERE ARE NUT HAVEN TREATS! - Batches of nuts may look the same to most of us, but the mavens at Nut Haven know the difference between a typical treat and a gourmet edible delight. The only items that make it into a Nut Haven basket are carefully selected nuts that are naturally rich, ideally textured and roasted OR sweetened with the perfect flavor.
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LOVE IT! ♥
Thanks, Mia! I hope you enjoy!
Sheri
Great idea. I could definitely use my unused garden bags for this.
What a great idea! I love it. I and trying to figure out how to make them bigger.
How much weight do you think this will hold? I am working on putting together some beauty and household gifts from items I have used coupons on :)
I would use it mostly for lighter presents, since it is basically made from newsprint.
Love your shopping with coupons strategy!